Below are articles and papers that highlight the interesting connection between the practice of Christian generosity and phenomenon of revival and/or reformation in the church. Questions about revival and reformation?
Generous Giving
J.I. Packer. Excerpt from Keep in Step with the Spirit. Fleming H. Revell Co.: Old Tappan, N.J., 1984.
In this brief excerpt on Charismatic Christians, theologian J.I. Packer argues that the gospel can be easily seen in a person’s life when he generously gives to the church. When people are open and expectant in their relationship to God, they can give generously and see it as a privilege. Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time.
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The Theological Implications of Church Member Giving Patterns
John Ronsvalle and Sylvia Ronsvalle. From “The State of Church Giving through 1995.” Champaign, Ill.: Empty Tomb, 1997.
This article asks the difficult question, “If I am not trusting God with my money, am I really trusting him with my eternal salvation?” The Ronsvalles, researchers of Christian giving trends, seek to establish, theologically, why church giving patterns may provide us with any indication of church members’ faith. They review the historical faith-works discussions, looking to the writings of Martin Luther, John Calvin and Dietrich Bonhoeffer for guidance. They also examine several biblical passages which indicate that grace does, in fact, have symptoms. True justification will become evident through one’s behavior. Finally, the Ronsvalles assert that the way a believer spends money may be the clearest indication—a kind of spiritual thermometer—of the heart’s true condition.
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Revivals of Religion
Thomas E. Peck. Presbyterian Quarterly, January 1888. Reprinted in Writings of Thomas E. Peck. Carlisle, Pa.: Banner of Truth, 1999.
In this selection aimed at defining revival and constraining its practice according to Scripture, Presbyterian theologian Thomas Peck (1822-93) offers the following brief insight about giving: “Liberality in giving is a good sign of genuine revival.”
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The Great Revival
C.H. Spurgeon. Bible Bulletin Board, 1986.
Charles Spurgeon, the 19th-century English minister known as “the Prince of Preachers,” preached this sermon on religious revival in 1858. In it he notes the effects of revival in the lives of the people affected, particularly their liberality: “When they give, they give with enlarged liberality; when they visit the sick, they do it with gentleness, meekness, and love. Everything is done with a single eye to God's glory; not of men, but by the power of God. Oh, that we might see such a revival as this!”
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The Spiritual Roots of Christian Social Concern
Richard F. Lovelace. Ch 12 in Dynamics of Spiritual Life: An Evangelical Theology of Renewal. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1979.
In this chapter from his classic book on revival, church historian Richard Lovelace chronicles the rise, fall, and re-rise of evangelical social concern. Lovelace criticizes evangelicals for attempting to practice piety without generosity, and liberals for attempting to practice generosity without piety. He concludes, “Christians concerned for social action, both Evangelical and non-Evangelical, cannot reach their goals without genuine spiritual renewal.”
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Marks of Revival
J.I. Packer. International Awakening Ministries, 2002.
English churchman and theologian J.I. Packer outlines the marks of genuine religious revival, one of which is love expressed through generosity: “Love and generosity, unity and joy, assurance and boldness, a spirit of praise and prayer, and a passion to reach out to win others are recurring marks of a people experiencing revival.”
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Hawaii’s Great Awakening of 1835-1840
Gospel Truth Ministries, 2000.
In this account of the 19th century revival in Hawaii, the author quotes a contemporary record of the generosity of the native converts: “Among their humble gifts, you will see one bring a bunch of hemp, another a pile of wood for fuel, a mat, a tappa, a male, a little salt, a fish, a fowl, a taro, a potato, a cabbage, a little arrowroot, a few ears of corn, a few eggs. The old and feeble and children who have nothing else to give, gather grass wherewith to cover and enrich the soil. Each gives according to his ability and shuns to approach empty-handed.”
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Symptoms and Fruits of a Revival of Religion
Charles J. Brown. In The Revival of Religion: Addresses by Scottish Evangelical Leaders Delivered in Glasgow in 1840. Carlisle, Pa.: Banner of Truth, 1984.
In this classic collection of addresses by 19th century Scottish ministers, Rev. Charles Brown catalogs the evidences of genuine revival, one of which is charitable giving by the people, regardless of age or income: “Considering the circumstances of the people, I bear testimony that their liberality and zeal in this case have cause to provoke many others to similar duties. It was most delightful to see the hoary head and the young scholar of eight or nine years joining in this contribution.”
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Some Thoughts Concerning the Revival
Jonathan Edwards. In Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 4. New Haven: Yale, 1972.
In part 5 of this reflection by Edwards on the Great Awakening, he points out certain weaknesses in the present revival, ways in which it ought to be improved. One weakness, he explains, is a failure in generosity: “God’s people at such a time as this ought especially to abound in deeds of charity, or almsgiving. We generally in these days seem to fall far below the true spirit and practice of Christianity with regard to this duty, and seem to have but little notion of it, so far as I can understand the New Testament… If God’s people in this land were once brought to abound in such deeds of love, as much as in praying, hearing, singing, and religious meetings and conference, it would be a most blessed omen. There is nothing would have a greater tendency to bring the God of love down from heaven to the earth.”
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A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections
Jonathan Edwards. In Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 2. New Haven: Yale, 1959.
In this classic work on Christian spirituality, written by the foremost preacher of the Great Awakening, Edwards outlines the distinguishing signs of true religious affections, one of which is a spiritually motivated generosity with material possessions: “The making a great shew of love, pity, and distress for souls, costs ‘em nothing; but in order to shew mercy to men’s bodies, they must part with money out of their pockets.”
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Power, Change, and Money: An Essay on Radical Christian Generosity
Tim Keller. Lookout Mountain (Tenn.) Presbyterian Church, 2001.
How did Christians transform the powerful and corrupt Roman world? How did they sweep away all the older religious and social constructs of mythology and superstition? The Roman Emperor Julian wrote this: “Their success lies in their charity to strangers. The impious Galileans (i.e. Christians) support both their own poor and ours as well!” Generosity was at the forefront of the explosion of the early church. What might we learn from this in the 21st century?
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Reforming Our Lives
James Montgomery Boice. Excerpt from “Whatever Happened to the Gospel of Grace? Recovering the Doctrines That Shook the World”. Foreword by Eric J. Alexander. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, Good News Publishers, 2001.
Pastor, author and theologian James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000) writes briefly on recovering an attitude of service and dedication in the Christian life. Citing a Gallup poll that was used to assess the state of religion in America, Boice distinguishes between those who maintain a “cultural facade” of Christianity and those who are truly Christian. He points out that the Gallup poll discovered four distinctive characteristics of “the highly spiritually committed”: (1) They are more satisfied with their lives. (2) Their families are stronger. (3) They tend to be more tolerant of people of different races and religions. (4) They are far more involved in charitable activities than the less spiritually committed. Boice utilizes statistics well to make his point that the church needs a change; he closes with an exhortation: “So let’s get on with our calling, and let those who say they know God show they actually do.” Note: No downloadable text or audio is available at this time.
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